Some of the legends of South Texas stock car racing will make their long awaited return this weekend to Texas’ fastest half-mile, paved oval speedway when San Antonio Speedway reopens after nearly a 5 1/2-year absence for the 11th Octoberfast event.

A star-studded entry list of 120 drivers, including local legends and former champions George Hagy, Brandon Bendele, Joe Aramendia and Robert Barker will return to their home track for the short-track homecoming event.

The action begins on Friday at 6:05 p.m. with qualifying, heat races and a Grand Stock feature race. On Saturday the action begins at 4:55 p.m. with a 25-lap feature race for the Lonestar Legacies. The opening ceremonies are set for 5:55 p.m. The feature races start at 6 p.m. and will include Chargers (35 laps), Street Stocks (50 laps), Trucks (75 laps), Late Models (100 laps) and Modifieds (75 laps).

Former San Antonio Speedway track champion Brandon Bendele, in his No. 6 Pro Late Model, practices on the high banks at San Antonio Speedway. (Photo by Debbie Williams)

“I’m super excited about racing at San Antonio Speedway again,” Brandon Bendele said. “It’s great that I’ll only have to travel 30 minutes to get to the race track instead of having to fly all the way to the east coast. I also think it will be a neat atmosphere for both the drivers and the fans, especially since we always seem to put on a good show. After this initial race, I hope we’ll be able to do it again in the future.”

The 37-year old La Vernia resident will be driving his black No. 6 Pro Late Model. Bendele spent most of his life at the track watching his father Larry Bendele race and once he was old enough he started racing stock cars of his own at the famed speedway. Bendele won several championships at SAS, including two NASCAR Sunbelt Regional titles in 1977and 2001 and the ROMCO Super Late Model championship in 2003.

George Hagy will also be making his return to SAS this weekend. The 45-year old driver will pilot the #47X North Park Toyota Pro Late Model.

“I was so sorry to hear about the closure of San Antonio Speedway a few years ago while I was living in North Carolina,” Hagy said. “So, it was pretty exciting for me to find out that the track was reopening. I really appreciate everybody working so hard to put it back together again.”

Hagy won the 1987 Super Late Model Series championship at SAS and in 1992 he claimed the NASCAR Late Model title.

“I remember all of the good times in my younger days with my dad and the rest of the family at the track, and going back there to race again is something I’ll hold very close to my heart,” Hagy said.

San Antonio’s Joe Aramendia, 49, will be driving two race cars this weekend. He will pilot the blue No. 79 Pro Late Model and the matching No. 79 Modified.

In 2006 Aramendia won the last NASCAR Late Model championship at SAS before the track closed in March 2007. Since then he has went on to win NASCAR championships at other Texas asphalt tracks, claiming the 2009 and 2010 Late Model state titles in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series. He recently captured the 2012 state NASCAR Modified championship title and will be honored at a banquet hosted by NASCAR in December.

“I’m excited about racing again on my home track, where I originally learned to race,” said Aramendia. “And hopefully I’ll remember how to do some of the stuff I used to do and figure out my way around the track.”

Robert Barker of Boerne will also return to SAS this weekend in the black #97 Wild Child Motorsports Modified car. Barker, 40, won his first NASCAR Late Model championship in 1995 and then won it again ten years later in 2005.

“I’m really excited about racing again at San Antonio Speedway,” commented Barker. I’ve always had so much fun there.”